I play the baritone good

Woo, good to hear. This is pretty much the reason that I paid for Fan Network. :) This man is intelligent.

I also served, was in the Army for just under 6 years. ETS'd in March. Anyway I have a question about the Fan Network. I bought the $79 package (whichever that was) at the start of the season expecting to be able to watch the live webcasts. I login today and see that San Antonio is asking me for $25. WTF? Didn't I already pay for this? Is this just a typo that will go away when the show starts? If so, DCI really needs to change that, I'm sure some people are over-paying. If not, then #### DCI, this is getting ridiculous.

I remember thinking "Wow, that guy hasn't aged out yet?" LAST YEAR What a talented performer. He was amazing when he was younger, can't wait to see more of his stuff this year.

Yep, this is a thread on the Internet.

I must admit I didn't really love any of the shows I saw tonight. I'm extremely disappointed after the (in my opinion) lackluster 2010 season. I thought 2003 was pretty lackluster too, and then 2004 blew me away. I was hoping for the same thing this year... not so much. Please keep in mind that I'm talking exclusively about show concepts/design. BD - Possibly the ugliest uniforms I have ever seen. I can't believe the 14 time champs thought those were a good idea... wow. Anyway, it was nice to hear some melody from them. Still too much reliance on props. I think the judging community is a bit sick of the props as well and will score them accordingly throughout the season. Just a hunch. Cavies - Some cool moments. Loved the upside down tenors. Not sold on the stilts. Drill was solid (as expected), but the music... unmemorable. Overall the show left me wanting more. Bluecoats - Can't even think of one moment of the show. That's how unmemorable it was. Crown - Still too much "Crown cheese" but I guess I'm starting to get used to it. First half of the show was very entertaining. Second half... will probably be re-written. ;) At least the closer, pretty please? Cadets - I liked this show quite a bit. I usually hate the Cadets, so I'm surprised that they performed my favorite show of the evening. The dual-uniforms thing works for me. I'm impressed that Sacktig managed to write an entire drill book around it (he's not the most talented, in my opinion). But he pulled it off masterfully. Hopefully this show will win in August, that will help restore my faith in drum corps a bit. Regiment - Nice to see them with an all-female guard again. New uniforms are solid and classy. The show is boring, though. After seeing such masterful guard integration/storytelling from them in the past it breaks my heart that every major "plot point" of this show was performed on a drum major podium on the back sideline. What the heck, Phantom? Write that stuff into the show, i.e. on the field. SCV - FML. This design team has the thickest skulls on the planet. You'd think after last year they'd stay away from the angry dissonance. Nope. I was dumbfounded. What a boring show. Blue Stars - I have no idea how SCV is beating them. The brassline is amazing (comparatively). The prop was under-utilized, but could be cool in the future. Synth was WAY too loud. All in all a solid show, should beat SCV's butt pretty soundly by August. Overall I was underwhelmed by tonight's show. I guess I'm turning in to a dinosaur? Meh. Hopefully Cesario's new rules address these show design problems. I feel like show designs are taking a step backward. They were FINALLY starting to be more crowd friendly and entertaining... now it looks like 1990's drum corps. Hopefully every group implements some big changes before Finals. If not, this might be the last Finals I attend in person. It's just not worth it anymore.

Audio and video is out of sync in my theater. WOW I'm mad.

I think every brass player has to fantasize about marching lead sop at BD... maybe just a little bit, but the appeal is always there. Then again the same appeal applies is there for marching contra at PR. ;)

Doesn't BD usually announce their show by now?

doing it right???

Oh dear.

Seriously. Break 1 & 2 on DCP? Come on /b/ro.

Watched videos, realized I *have* to buy the blu-rays this year (I refused to double-dip in '09 after I already bought the DVD's). HI-DEF DRUM CORPS DO NEED

Even without the camera man hijinks, nothing will ever top that for me.

He is the caption head... so yes, I imagine his opinion on this matter would carry a lot of weight.

Hopefully it lit a spark under their backsides! Kidding of course. Well, kinda.

I might be down for this. However, I'm flying in from Afghanistan the day prior, so then again I might just stay out and have 3-4 more beers. If not this year, then next year though.

Hasn't that been the case in the past, though? I was told that for a few years there the battery actually moved in to an apartment together during the offseason so they could practice as a unit every day. Dudes transferred schools just to make it work. I guess that was just a tall tale?

1.) Blue Devils 2.) Carolina Crown 3.) The Cadets 4.) Bluecoats 5.) Cavaliers 6.) Santa Clara Vanguard 7.) Phantom Regiment 8.) Blue Knights 9.) Madison Scouts 10.) Boston Crusaders 11.) Blue Stars 12.) Troopers My prediction is still a bit optimistic for several corps. It is only early July, after all. :)

Wowzer, way to go BK! Although, as an SCV alum, I will say that it's hard to stomach. Many corps have had their "first time SCV victory" the past few years. I'm just now starting to enjoy (and love) Bluecoat and Crown shows instead of dissecting them with fiery eyes. However, good drum corps is good drum corps, and the best corps should win. So congrats to BK! Can't wait to see your show live in Indy.

Great post. However, I'm pretty sure that Jeff has in fact been acting as the corps director starting with last season. I believe he's been doing that in addition to his CEO stuff. I'm not 100% though, I just know they've been announcing his name at the end of SCV's performances. :)

FML

I have dumb internet in Afghanistan as well, and I'm having the exact same problem. I simply do not understand why every video website doesn't work like youtube. I have the same problem on most news sites as well. Just let me pause it, load the video for 30 minutes, and then watch! Since you can't do that this year, I basically wasted $59 on a FN that I can't even use. Thanks for nothing, DCI.

My post is still the best. Also, targetting BD as having stupid guard uniforms is ridiculous. ALL drum corps have stupid guard uniforms! :P